Michigan

A Collaborative Effort

Area galleries pull together to create a festival of contemporary art.

SuppliedThe SMart Festival returns this month.

From April 1--7, SMart Festival will draw hundreds of participants to Grand Rapids as the collaborative media art festival kicks off more than fifteen exhibitions, installations, performances, and events.

Founded in 2006 by Open Concept Gallery, the festival was created as an outlet for students of local colleges and universities to participate in the creation of Michigan's first contemporary new media festival. It has since grown to include other artists and groups, but as evidenced by the participation of Aquinas College, Calvin College, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, and Kendall College of Art and Design, it still boasts a robust contingent of students.

SMart coordinators consider the festival an innovative opportunity for artists, and a necessary event to build Grand Rapids' contemporary art scene. The annual event features highly acclaimed innovative new artwork by international, national, and local artists. It is designed to showcase Grand Rapids' downtown core by not only featuring work in traditional galleries and exhibition spaces, but also utilizing theaters, buildings, and urban spaces to screen films, project images, and host performances.

Many of the Grand Rapids Gallery Association members will be participating in the festival. Exhibitions at member galleries include "Erin Overmeyer" at the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, "Advanced Photography Exhibition" at Calvin College's (106) Gallery, and "GVSU Group Exhibition" at Open Concept Gallery. Be sure to check out other GRGA members hosting SMart events such as "Listen to Reason," a collaborative visual and music performance at Kendall College of Art and Design and "PROject/proJECT," a collaborative audiovisual performance at ByrneBoehm Gallery.

Events run from April 1--7 with many exhibitions hosting opening receptions and events April 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. Other venues include the Wealthy Street Theatre, Schuler Books & Music, The B.O.B., and various locations in downtown Grand Rapids. For a list of all the events and locations, visit www.smart.openconceptgallery.org